Comments by Dr Garth Pettit on The Video Zorba The Greek Yolgnu Style

MouthWise Oral HealthCare education resources had their origins when, in January 1997, I was accepted for the position of District Dental Officer, East Arnhem Land in the North-West of the Northern Territory of Australia.

Until my departure from East Arnhem Land in June 2002 I was kept happily, very busy, visiting the main, remote, greatly-scattered Aboriginal communities in that wonderful, unique part of Australia.

It was during my visit in early 2001 to the Aboriginal community of Numbulwar when I first became aware that the instruction “Brush Your Teeth” was flawed, a cause of oral diseases and needed a major overhaul. So was born my 21st Century oral hygiene instruction “Treat Your Whole Mouth”.

I have many wonderful memories of East Arnhem Land and of it’s inhabitants. When Australian aboriginals live on their natural bush tucker diet they have one of the most beautiful dentitions in the world.

They are wonderful people and have a great sense of humour as you will note in this video.

Frank Djirrimbilpilwuy from Milingimbi has been in the Indigenous Media Industry for many years and has been a long-standing member and supporter of the Top End Aboriginal Bush Broadcasting Association, TEABBA Radio. He has worked Independently in Music and Film for many years also.

As the man behind the camera and release of the video, Frank is also representing the dance group who call themselves “The Chooky Dancers”. Frank has said that he filmed the footage at this years Ramingining Festival on the 30th September 2007 and knew it would be “something special” as soon as he saw the boys rehearsing. “The crowd went wild as you can see in the video, and the classic song Zorba the Greek has now become a hit overnight in the communities and now it seems, everywhere else too” Frank said.

In just one week of being released onto “You Tube” by the staff at TEABBA Media Services, the video has received rave reviews been given a 5 star rating and has now been viewed well over 15,000 times.

“The phones have not stopped ringing at the TEABBA offices, all from people who want to know more about the footage,” a TEABBA staff member has said “even the honorable Kon Vatskalis with the Territory Labour party has commented on the video and suggested that they perform at the Greek Glenti next year.”

The Chooky Dancers are a group of 10 energetic young men who had healthy living in mind when they choreographed the performance. Franks son Lionel is the lead dancer in the video footage at front and center.

“They (the Chooky Dancers) begun working on this just after this years Garma Festival in Gukula and worked very hard on it, they also do a Bollywood style performance which is also fantastic” Frank said. It seems that talent runs in Frank’s family, with Franks Daughter also in an all Indigenous Line Dance Group also who Frank actively plays a role in.

The “Zorba” video, which has not yet been given an official title, is just a sample of Franks works “I edited that footage on “imovie” at the TEABBA Media Services video workshop and now have plans to make a documentary about my Yolngu families connections to the Greek culture”. Franks feelings towards the Greek culture have been reinforced by his daughter Pricilla, who requires constant care and is currently being cared for by a woman of Greek heritage in Darwin. “Lillian is a selfless woman, who cares for my daughter” Frank said ” she takes Priscilla to church, weddings and all kinds of functions within the Greek community and they are all lovely people with strong cultural identity also which Yolngu people can identify to. I want to show through this documentary how 2 cultures can mix and this dance video is a fabulous start”, Frank said.

If anyone would like to enquire about Frank’s work or “The Chooky Dancers”, Frank can be reached on f_garawirrtja@yahoo.com or 0427 801 699 or if difficulties are experienced with getting through, messages can be left with TEABBA Radio on 89 390 400.

The Chooky Dancers will appear on Channel 7s Australia’s Got Talent which is currently screening on Tuesday nights.

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